Any idea what material this is?

[Monkeyleg]

This photo is of the base of a lamp my wife found at a rummage sale. I'm interested in the white material with the marble-ish look. It doesn't feel like plastic, but it could be.

Does anyone have any idea what this might be, or what it's supposed to be imitating?

[Typhoon]

Looks like Capiz shells. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capiz

Way back when, Capiz shell lamps were a popular home decorating item for folks who were deployed to the Western Pacific.  I had one that my parents acquired when we lived in Okinawa.  They can be quite fragile when older and difficult to clean.  That’s why I no longer have it.  Check out Google images for Capiz shell lamps if curious.

Andrea

[grampster]

Looks like troll teeth to me.

[Typhoon]

Unfortunately, my dragon fang lamp met the same fate.

[Monkeyleg]

Interesting. Thanks, Typhoon. I found all sorts of things made from Capiz shell. I wonder how they work the shell into shapes? I saw a Capiz shell ball, mirror frame, and other things that required adhering shells together and somehow shaping them.

[RocketMan]

Pieces of Mother of Pearl?

[Devonai]

If it's translucent, it could be alabaster.

[Typhoon]

I’m pretty sure they are capiz shells.  RocketMan is essentially correct.  They are the outer shell of a marine mollusk found in the shallow waters around the Philippines, also called “window pane oysters,” scientific name placuna placenta. 

After harvesting, they are molded first by drying them out and then soaking them in a hydrogen peroxide solution until pliable.  Found this procedure:

http://www.ehow.com/how_7725869_mold-capiz-shell.html

My particular lamp was one of the swag/cascading shells variety.  It was pretty old when I got it and a bit grungy.  The shells were strung with fishing line that also deteriorated over time, and the lamp had more than a few broken shells. After the second rewiring coupled with the attendant grime, I decided to chuck it.  Had the internet been around back then, I may have figured out a way to salvage it, but, oh well…

[Chuck Dye]

Many lamps like that have a low wattage bulb inside the base.  It can be a pretty effect, worth looking for.

[Monkeyleg]

Thanks again. They are Capiz shells, and they're molded with hydrogen peroxide.

I'm thinking about having a custom switchblade made, with Damascus blade, swinguard and bolsters. The question is the scales material. I've been playing in Photoshop with burlwood, capiz shell, green box elder burl (a little loud), Norwegian curly birch burl, and a shell material I don't know the name of. Here's my quick photo-chops:

[MrsSmith]

FWIW, I like the second one. Very pretty! Makes my little Puma look like a red-headed stepchild.

[seeker_two]

This one gets my vote.....

[Monkeyleg]

The second one is the Capiz shell. Of course, I don't know if that's how it would actually look when finished.

[MrsSmith]

Beautiful. I do like the green burl too, but don't care for the curly birch - don't like the color.

[Monkeyleg]

I'm tempted to go with real mother of pearl, but I just ordered a 13" dagger style stiletto blade model with imitation mother of pearl grips. The capiz shell could be interesting if it was layered as the base of the lamp is.

Real (not photoshopped) Damascus bolsters along with the swing guard and blade make the knives look antique. I'm trying to think of a material that has an antique or art deco feel. An antiqued ivory might be interesting. If there was an animal horn that was sort of close to the burlwood, that might be interesting.

[Monkeyleg]

How about a faux travertine marble?

[brimic]

Another vote for the green one.

[Monkeyleg]

I had a 13" dark green switchblade when I was 17. The cops took it. I figure green is bad luck now.

Here's a photo of one with Damascus blade and bolsters, with a stag grip. I don't like the "bullseye" Damascus pattern, but I think you can see how the Damascus treatment gives the knife an antique look, almost an art deco look.

With the swing guard and traditional-looking bolsters in Damascus, I think it would look really retro. (The knife I want made, not the one pictured below). Ivory would be nice if there was an ivory that had striations in it.

Maybe I'll just break down and do mother of pearl. I haven't seen any types of horn that I like.

[sanglant]

amber buffalo horn can be interesting. and amber for that matter, or you could go with walrus penis. looks nice, kinda creepy though.

[tokugawa]

RAYSKIN, like on a Japanese sword?     Who is going to make your knife?

[Monkeyleg]

Who is going to make your knife?

Possibly Frank Beltrame in Italy, or SloJoe in Tennessee (or is it Kentucky?).

[sanglant]

you might want to check Darrel's site out, not that he makes what you want. but it's still a good site to check out, he has some nice handle materials.

[RoadKingLarry]

Ivory would be nice if there was an ivory that had striations in it.

Mastodon/mammoth ivory would fit that bill. It can be had but it's a tad pricey.

[Monkeyleg]

I've seen the mastodon ivory and mammoth ivory on some custom maker's sites, as well as pre-ban ivory. It still seems a bit plain for a knife like that, at least to me. My wife has some things around the house that have ivory in them, and the ivory is browned a bit, and unevenly browned (from smoking). Some of the patterns look interesting. Subtle, but interesting.